We Are the Clay
Isaiah 64
The chapter continues the previous prayer, describing how mountains would tremble and melt like wax if the Lord appeared in power, while confessing that no one calls upon his name and that all their righteousness is like a filthy rag. The people appeal to the Lord as their Father and potter, and lament that the holy city and its temple lie burned and desolate.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomsonand they will melt as wax melteth before fire; and a fire will burn up the adversaries, and Thy name will be manifest to the adversaries. At Thy presence the nations will be troubled.
Brentonas wax melts before the fire; and fire shall burn up the enemies, and thy name shall be manifest among the adversaries: at thy presence the nations shall be troubled,
Greekὡς κηρὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου πυρὸς τήκεται, καὶ κατακαύσει πῦρ τοὺς ὑπεναντίους, καὶ φανερὸν ἔσται τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐν τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις· ἀπὸ προσώπου σου ἔθνη ταραχθήσονται,
KJVAs when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
JPSAs when fire kindleth the brush-wood, and the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make Thy name known to Thine adversaries, that the nations might tremble at Thy presence,
2
Thomson—
Brentonwhenever thou shalt work gloriously; trembling from thee shall take hold upon the mountains.
Greekὅταν ποιῇς τὰ ἔνδοξα· τρόμος λήψεται ἀπὸ σοῦ ὄρη.
KJV—
JPS—
3
ThomsonNever have we heard, nor have our eyes seen a God besides Thee; nor works such as Thine, which Thou wilt do for them who wait for mercy.
BrentonFrom of old we have not heard, neither have our eyes seen a God beside thee, and thy works which thou wilt perform to them that wait for mercy.
GreekἈπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος οὐκ ἠκούσαμεν, οὐδὲ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἡμῶν εἶδον Θεὸν πλήν σου, καὶ τὰ ἔργα σου, ἃ ποιήσεις τοῖς ὑπομένουσιν ἔλεον.
KJVFor since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
JPSAnd whereof from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside Thee, who worketh for him that waiteth for Him.
4
ThomsonFor it will meet them who practise righteousness, and they will remember Thy ways. Behold, Thou wast angry when we sinned;
BrentonFor these blessings shall happen to them that work righteousness, and they shall remember thy ways: behold, thou wast angry and we have sinned; therefore we have erred,
GreekΣυναντήσεται γὰρ τοῖς ποιοῦσι τὸ δίκαιον, καὶ τῶν ὁδῶν σου μνησθήσονται· ἰδοὺ σὺ ὠργίσθης, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἡμάρτομεν· διατοῦτο ἐπλανήθημεν,
KJVThou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
JPSThou didst take away him that joyfully worked righteousness, those that remembered Thee in Thy ways— Behold, Thou wast wroth, and we sinned— Upon them have we stayed of old, that we might be saved.
5
Thomsonbecause of this we wandered and became all of us as unclean, and all our righteousness was like a polluted rag; and for our iniquities we have fallen like leaves; so that the wind will sweep us away.
Brentonand we are all become as unclean, and all our righteousness as a filthy rag: and we have fallen as leaves because of our iniquities; thus the wind shall carry us away.
Greekκαὶ ἐγενήθημεν ὡς ἀκάθαρτοι πάντες ἡμεῖς, ὡς ῥάκος ἀποκαθημένης πᾶσα ἡ δικαιοσύνη ἡμῶν· καὶ ἐξεῤῥύημεν ὡς φύλλα διὰ τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῶν· οὕτως ἄνεμος οἴσει ἡμᾶς.
KJVBut we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
JPSAnd we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
6
ThomsonThere is indeed none who invoketh Thy name, or who remembered to lay hold on Thee; because Thou hast turned away Thy face from us, and delivered us up for our sins.
BrentonAnd there is none that calls upon thy name, or that remembers to take hold on thee: for thou hast turned thy face away from us, and hast delivered us up because of our sins.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἐπικαλούμενος τὸ ὄνομά σου, καὶ ὁ μνησθεὶς ἀντιλαβέσθαι σου· ὅτι ἀπέστρεψας τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀφʼ ἡμῶν, καὶ παρέδωκας ἡμᾶς διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν.
KJVAnd there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
JPSAnd there is none that calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee; for Thou hast hid Thy face from us, and hast consumed us by means of our iniquities.
7
ThomsonBut now, O Lord, Thou art our Father. Though we are clay, we are all the works of Thy hands:
BrentonAnd now, O Lord, thou art our Father, and we are clay, all of us the work of thine hands.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν Κύριε, πατὴρ ἡμῶν σὺ, ἡμεῖς δὲ πηλός, ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σου πάντες.
KJVBut now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
JPSBut now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter, and we all are the work of Thy hand.
8
Thomsonbe not angry with us to the uttermost; nor remember forever our sins: but, O, look down now upon us; for we are all Thy people.
BrentonBe not very wroth with us, and remember not our sins for ever; but now look on us, for we are all thy people.
GreekΜὴ ὀργίζου ἡμῖν σφόδρα, καὶ μὴ ἐν καιρῷ μνησθῇς ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν· καὶ νῦν ἐπίβλεψον, ὅτι λαός σου πάντες ἡμεῖς.
KJVBe not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
JPSBe not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever; behold, look, we beseech Thee, we are all Thy people.
9
ThomsonThe city of Thy sanctuary is become a desert: Sion is become like a desert; Jerusalem, a curse.
BrentonThe city of thy holiness has become desolate, Sion has become as a wilderness, Jerusalem a curse.
GreekΠόλις τοῦ ἁγίου σου ἐγενήθη ἔρημος, Σιὼν ὡς ἔρημος ἐγενήθη, Ἱερουσαλὴμ εἰς κατάραν.
KJV—
JPSThy holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
10
ThomsonThe house, our sanctuary—even that glory which our fathers blessed, is utterly burnt up with fire, and all our glorious things are in ruins;
BrentonThe house, our sanctuary, and the glory which our fathers blessed, has been burnt with fire: and all our glorious things have gone to ruin.
GreekὉ οἶκος τὸ ἅγιον ἡμῶν, καὶ ἡ δόξα ἣν εὐλόγησαν οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν, ἑγενήθη πυρίκαυστος, καὶ πάντα ἔνδοξα ἡμῶν συνέπεσε.
KJVOur holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.
JPSOur holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised Thee, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant things are laid waste.
11
Thomsonyet despite all these things, Thou, O Lord, hast refrained, and been silent. Thou hast humbled us exceedingly.
BrentonAnd for all these things thou, O Lord, hast withholden thyself, and been silent, and hast brought us very low.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις ἀνέσχου Κύριε, καὶ ἐσιώπησας, καὶ ἐταπείνωσας ἡμᾶς σφόδρα.
KJVWilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?
JPSWilt Thou refrain Thyself for these things, O LORD? Wilt Thou hold Thy peace, and afflict us very sore?